Military mortuary flap stirs emotions

Military mortuary flap stirs emotions
By Chad Livengood and Nicole Gaudiano, Gannett
WILMINGTON, Del. – Following disclosure Tuesday that Dover mortuary employees sawed off the arm of a Marine without family permission, parents of other servicemembers who have died were split on the emotional issue of what measures are appropriate to memorialize their children.

When Chris Smith's son arrived at Dover Air Force Base in a flag-draped case, the Hornell, N.Y., man was told Marine Lance Cpl. Zachary Smith's body was not viewable. The Marine, 19, was killed Jan. 24, 2010, by a bomb in Afghanistan, which blew off one leg and badly mangled the other.

To the surprise of his grieving parents, base mortuary employees were able to make the body presentable for an open-casket funeral. "We got to observe him after being told there was nothing to observe," Chris Smith said. "You don't know how grateful I was to see my boy."


Melinda Kane, of Cherry Hill, N.J., whose son, Marine Lance Cpl. Jeremy Kane, died Jan. 23, 2010, in an Afghan suicide bombing, said that in the case of the Marine whose limb was dismembered the family should have been informed first.

"It had to be horrible for that family to find out that their wanting to view the body ends up doing more damage," Kane said.
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